Once again, thanks to the persuasive powers of curator extraordinaire June Rubis, we have artist Ashaari Rahmat joining us for Why Malaysia week. He shares with us his own picture into ‘why Malaysia’.
“Why Malaysia?”
Because I made a conscious decision—to stay, to love this land, to embrace it’s people. For example, some people are born into certain religions, but that means little unless they make a conscious decision to embody the ideas of that religion; otherwise they convert (openly or secretly). People who go away/leave—it’s because they choose to (whether they admit it or not; many people like to blame “circumstances”).
So this drawing is more of an introspection. Before we make a decision, we’ll usually have an assessment of things (or something like that). In this matter, this “nation” or being a citizen to a nation—we need to ask ourselves some hard questions before we decide. Otherwise we drift through, which to some is all right—but again, that is their choice, no?
Ashaari Rahmat lives in TTDI and works with a local KL-based NGO (which focuses on medical relief—although he’s not involved in the medical aspects), and he likes Battlestar Galactica. And Firefly. And Dune.
this country sucks, i know that since i was 5. i've lived overseas and could have not returned at all. but i go home anyway. why? because i want to. don't sue me for wanting to stay here no matter how bad it is.